China is positioning itself as a choice destination for thousands of expatriates worldwide. Here's everything you need to know if you wish to explore the country...

The People's Republic of China, commonly known as China, is an East Asian country. It is one of the region's largest countries, stretching over some 9,706,961 km², extending to the Pacific Ocean and sharing its borders with the Gobi desert and the Himalayas. China has many major cities, namely Beijing, the capital city, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

DemographyIn 2013, China's population stood at more than 1.351 billion inhabitants. It is the most densely populated country in the world, representing nearly a fifth of the global population. It consists of not only several ethnic groups but also of different nationalities. Indeed, the country has a high expatriation rate for several years. China's official language is Mandarin. However, other languages such as "Wu", Cantonese, "Gan", "Hakka" and "Min" among others, are spoken in different Chinese provinces. As for foreign languages such as English and French, they are taught in schools.

EconomyChina is the second largest economy after the United States. The country has recorded a growth rate of around 7.7% in 2013, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 8.227 billion U.S. dollars. China accounts for 33 % of global growth. Its economy is mainly based on sectors such as industry, automotive, trade, export, agriculture and services, etc.

The country also possesses natural resources such as rare metals: antimony, germanium, indium, fluorite, not to mention gas and petroleum. Moreover, China is the world's largest textile, laptops, TVs, cameras, watches and toys exporter. Its economic allies are the United States, Hong Kong and Japan. There is also a strong presence of international foreign companies in the country, thus accelerating its economic growth.

PoliticsThe People's Republic of China is governed by three political bodies: the Communist Party, the State and the Chinese Army. Power is centralized in Beijing through its administrative agencies and other public institutions. Xi Jinping is the President of the People's Republic of China, Chairman of the Central Military Commission and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party while Li Keqiang is the Prime Minister of the Council of State Affairs.

ClimateChina has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and cool winters. In fact, winter often causes polar air invasions and short chills. Summer can be relatively warm, with temperatures higher than 22°C. Climate transition is mostly defined by the dampness of the air, often causing climatic phenomena such as typhoons, tornadoes and hurricanes.